Electronic and Information Engineering with a Year Abroad

Our Electronic and Information Engineering degree programmes give you an understanding of the entire stack of modern networked computers, from the design and architecture of the CPU in a smart-phone, to the information theory and wireless protocols connecting it to the internet, and on into the operating systems and databases providing back-end support in the cloud. The course covers the technical knowledge and practical skills of both computing and electrical engineering, while also providing a big picture view of how it all connects together, preparing you for a career in cutting edge technology in industry or research.

First year

• a core programme of nine modules, supported by study groups and experiments in the electrical and computer laboratories. You will learn to program in C and become familiar with software design, programming concepts and tool use; skills that will transfer to any programming language/ environment that you encounter.

• the first year project allows you to perform image processing on a configurable hardware board. There is no processor, only a Field Programmable Gate Array. This allows you to do very high performance parallel processing by essentially building your own processor designed to perform your algorithm.

Second year

• you continue to follow the core programme taking eleven compulsory technical modules.

• the second year project is the IBM Computer Architecture Workshop, run by staff from IBM and Imperial, which gives you the opportunity to apply your understanding of systems architecture, databases, middleware, operating systems and network hardware and software to a real IT systems challenge.

Third year

• you start to design your degree programme to fit your interests and skills in consultation with your personal tutor, selecting advanced subjects from the Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering and the Department of Computing.

MEng students have the choice of  a six-month assessed industrial placement or group project at Imperial College

Fourth year

• ​you continue to select further specialist subjects, choosing eight advanced technical options from a selection of around 37 Masters’-level modules taught by the Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering and the Department of Computing. You can also participate in the Inter-Departmental Exchange (IDX) scheme which allows you to take modules from other engineering departments in your fourth year. The first three years of your degree programme provide you with firm foundations for a career in your chosen discipline – but twenty-first century engineers need much more. Increasingly, the really ground-breaking innovations are generated when engineers work within inter-disciplinary teams and at the boundaries of their individual fields. The IDX scheme offers you a chance to develop and demonstrate your ability to learn another specialist ‘language’.

• your final individual project is a substantial piece of work that accounts for 33 per cent of the year mark.

• students on the Year Abroad stream will spend this year in an overseas university and complete a programme similar to that offered to the fourth year.

The number of applicants substantially exceeds the number of places available. The academic entry requirements are high to ensure that accepted students are capable of sucessfully completing the course. 

All students will require an English language qualification. The standard requirement is grade B in GCSE English, or an equivalent in IELTS.

A-level / Advanced Higher

• A* in Mathematics

• A in Physics 

• A in a third subject

The third subject can be any from the list below, but the preferred subject is Further Mathematics.

Acceptable third subjects: Applied ICT, Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science, Computing, Design and Technology, Economics, Electronics,  English Literature, Further Mathematics, Geography, History,  Languages (Classical and Modern), Music Technology, Music, Statistics or Technology.

If your school/college does not offer Further Mathematics, you may wish to investigate your local Further Mathematics Network Centre http://www.fmnetwork.org.uk/

We prefer Further Mathematics as it provides a better grounding for the material taught in the first year of the course; but it is not essential. 

Applicants are normally expected to gain their A levels at first attempt (that is by end of Year 13).  It is acceptable to re-take individual AS and A2 modules during years 12 and 13.  We will consider applicants who are re-taking A-levels having taken them in Year 13.

For applicants taking Advanced Highers our entry requirements are AAA in Maths, Physics and a third subject.

AQA Baccalaureate

We can only consider the A-level element into consideration. The requirements are the same for A-level (above).

Cambridge Pre-U

Distinction in all principal subjects with D2 in Mathematics.

Mathematics and Physics are compulsory.  Acceptable third subjects are: Biology, Chemistry, or Further Mathematics.

We will also consider a mixture of Pre-U and A2 level Mathematics and Physics subjects.

International Baccalaureate

Around 15% of our students have taken International Baccalaureate exams.  For those taking IB our entry requirements are 6 in Higher Level Mathematics, 6 in Higher Level Physics, and 38 overall (which can include bonus points). 

Other qualifications

We welcome qualifications from a wide range of international exam systems. Typical requirements would be

• Irish Leaving Certificate:  AAAAAB with A in both Maths and Physics

• European Baccalaureate:  Maths and Physics at 85%, with an overall mark of 80% or higher

• Advanced Placement Tests: 3 subjects at grade 5, including Calculus BC and Physics C:E&M, OR Calculus BC and Physics C: Mechanics

• Greece: Apolyterion with 19 in Mathematics, Physics and third specialist subject, AND the same subjects in the Pan-Hellenic/Vevaisoi Provasis exam with 19 overall

• India: ISC/CBSE with 95% in Mathematics, 90% in Physics, and 90% in a further core subject and an overall average of 90% over five class XII subjects.  The Department will additionally require applicants to be interviewed by Skype and may also ask for a JEE score, or STEP in Mathematics.

• Singapore Integrated Programme: three subjects at H2  with grade A .  Maths and Physics are compulsory.  Acceptable 3rd subjects are Biology, Chemistry, Computing or Economics.

• Singapore Polytechnic Diploma: will be considered for 1st year entry if awarded the dipolma with a GPA  of 3.8+

We can not accept applicants with BTEC National Certificate, BTEC Higher National Diploma, GNVQ or City and Guilds qualifications or from Access courses. 

We currently accept students from the following two high-quality UK Foundation courses. These are specialised courses for overseas students whose home qualifications are not usually accepted for study at UK universities:

• UCL UPCSE: the University Preparatory Certificate for Science and Engineering is a high quality foundation programme.  We would typically look for scores of 80%+ in Maths and Physics.

• Warwick HEFP: The Higher Education Foundation Programme has a Science and Engineering specialisation.  We would be looking for Distinction in Maths, Physics and further subject.

If your qualification is not shown above, please see the College's further information on Undergraduate Academic Requirements http://www.imperial.ac.uk/study/ug/apply/requirements/

Direct entry to 2nd year

We do not accept direct entrants to the 2nd, 3rd or 4th year.  It is not possible to transfer credits from another univeristy to our courses.

UKESF is offering scholarships to students studying BEng and MEng degrees in electronics or electronic engineering at the UKESF partner universities.  Scholarships are open to students in any year of their degree, except the final year.

Successful candidates are matched with sponsoring companies for scholarships that include:

• Annual bursaries of up to £1,655
• Paid summer work placements
• Industrial mentoring
• Professional development training at UKESF Summer Workshops*
• Opportunities to build relationships with potential employers

*Scholars sponsored only for the final two years of a degree may not be offered this by their sponsoring company

In addition to the scholarships, some sponsoring companies offeropportunities for longer industrial training and MEng project placements.

As part of a scholarship, a UKESF scholar is expected to:

• Participate in at least one activity each year, during the scholarship period, to promote electronic engineering to school students; and
• Be willing to assist his/her university with the promotion of UKESF and it Scholarship Scheme to prospective and current students.

The duration of the scholarships offered will vary depending on the sponsoring company. Scholarships can start from any year of your degree (except the final year) and will continue until you graduate.  All scholarships will include at least one summer work placement.

How much is the annual bursary?
For scholarships awarded in 2014/15:

• Scholars studying 3-year BEng or 4-year MEng programmes will receive an annual bursary of £1,655 p.a.
• Scholars studying 4-year BEng or 5-year MEng programmes* will receive an annual bursary £1,105 p.a. for the 1st and 2nd year of their degree, and £1,655 p.a. for the 3rd, 4th and final years.
• Scholars studying 4-year BEng or 5-year MEng sandwich degree programmes will receive an annual bursary of £1,655 for each year of study spent in their university but not for their industrial training year.

*Currently applies to students registered at the universities of Edinburgh and Glasgow

Student Support Package

We are committed to enabling the most able students to study here. The College has a generous package of financial support for UK students from households with an annual income of up to £60,000. The total financial aid available from the College is up to £6,000 a year, depending on household income, and may include a fee waiver and the choice of cash support or a partial accommodation fee-waiver. 

All of our MEng degrees have the option for you to take a 6-month industrial placement during the third year.  This will provide you with substantial work experience that is relevant to your degree.

The MEng with the third year Integrated Industrial Placement option leads to the award of 270 ECTS and is Bologna compliant.